Literature in Britain today

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7. What might encourage people to read more literature? Key finding The factors most likely to encourage people to read more literature are: • recommendations of what to read • cheaper books • more local libraries. The 84% of respondents who had positive expectations about reading literature in the future (intending to start reading literature, or to read more than at present or the same amount) were asked what might encourage them in this intention. The most common responses were recommendations of what to read, cheaper books, and more local libraries. The least common responses included retirement, better eyesight and self-motivation. Table j. Encouragements to read more literature Question to all respondents who think they will read more or the same amount of, or start to read, literature in the future: What might encourage you to read more, or start reading, literature in the future? Recommendations of what to read Cheaper books More local libraries More local bookshops More free time Online information Programmes on TV or radio College or university course Local events by writers Local reading group Books on how to read literature Better books/more choice/subjects that interest me Improving knowledge/learning new subjects Reading with the children Self-motivation/not being so lazy Better eyesight Old age/retirement 2% 2% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 9% 8% 6% 13% 13% 13% 12% 21% 18% 26% 22
8. Which writers do people regard as writers of literature? Key findings • The writer most commonly considered to be a writer of literature is Shakespeare, with Dickens coming a close second. • The living writer most commonly considered to be a writer of literature is J K Rowling, who comes third. • In total, 400 writers were named as writers of literature. • 20% of people could not name a writer of literature. All respondents were asked if they could name a writer, living or from the past, whose work they would describe as literature. If respondents asked what was meant by literature, they were told that this was their choice. 2% of respondents answered No – they could not name a writer of literature – and another 18% said that they didn’t know, were not sure or couldn’t remember. Some names given by respondents were discounted, because the RSL could not recognise them as published writers. Table k. Top 20 named writers of literature Can you name a writer or author, living or from the past, whose work you would describe as literature? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. William Shakespeare Charles Dickens J K Rowling Roald Dahl Jane Austen Stephen King George Orwell The Brontë sisters Enid Blyton J R R Tolkien Dan Brown Terry Pratchett James Patterson Catherine Cookson Agatha Christie Thomas Hardy Lee Child Danielle Steel Jeffrey Archer Oscar Wilde, Jacqueline Wilson 7% (132) 5% (101) 3% (59) 2% (40) 2% (32) 1% (30) 1% (26) 1% (25) 1% (21) 1% (20) 1% (20) 1% (17) 1% (14) 1% (13) 1% (13) 1% (12) 1% (11) 1% (10) each 11% (210 out of 1,998 people) 9% (184) 23
Page 1 and 2: Literature in Britain today an Ipso
Page 3 and 4: Speed read summary Conclusions draw
Page 5 and 6: Introduction and commentary The def
Page 7 and 8: “The internet appears to enable a
Page 9 and 10: Background and aims of the research
Page 11 and 12: Those respondents who had read some
Page 13 and 14: 3. Who reads literature, and how do
Page 15 and 16: Table e. Social characteristics of
Page 17 and 18: 4. What attitudes do people have to
Page 19 and 20: 5. Would people like to read more l
Page 21: 6. What prevents people from readin
Page 25 and 26: Iris Gower Charlotte Greig Neil Gun
Page 27 and 28: Table m. Named writers of literatur
Page 29 and 30: Table p. Named writers of literatur
Page 31: Acknowledgements Thank you from the

Literature in Britain today

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